Locking mechanisms for vessels for swimming pool and spa equipment

Abstract

Disclosed are improved locking mechanisms for vessels, including both pressure and vacuum/suction vessels, used in swimming pool and spa equipment. These improved locking mechanisms provide a more robust, reliable seal between the lid and the body of the vessel, and include features that make moving the vessel between its sealed and unsealed positions easier. More specifically, the locking mechanisms include features that allow the lid to move into its sealed position when the locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel in a first direction, and that allow the lid to release from its sealed position and lift off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel in a second direction opposite the first direction.

1 . A vessel for swimming pool equipment, the vessel comprising a radial seal and a locking ring, wherein rotation of the locking ring less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel between a locked position and an unlocked position seals and unseals the vessel. 
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism comprising a plurality of ramps of one of a locking ring or the body of the vessel, and a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel,
 wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps and to facilitate sealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves from its unlocked position to its locked position.   
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp that is horizontally offset from the upper ramp. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp, wherein the upper ramp and the lower ramp are each orientated at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of double-ramps and the plurality of ramps cooperate in a thread-like fashion to seal the vessel when the locking ring is turned in a first direction into the locked position, and to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is turned in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of ramps transmit to the body a pressure load generated by rotation of the locking ring. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of ramps comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein:
 the upper surface functions as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface of the channel when the locking ring is rotated in a first direction to the locked position to seal the vessel; and   the lower surface functions as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface of the channel to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.   
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein at least one channel defined in the plurality of double-ramps comprises a channel interface locking feature that cooperates with a corresponding interference feature of one of the plurality of ramps. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism that comprises:
 features on a lid;   features on a locking ring; and   features on the body of the vessel, wherein the features on the lid engage with the features on the locking ring and the features on the locking ring engage with the features on the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring rotates between the unlocked position and the locked position.   
     
     
         10 . The vessel of  claim 1 , the vessel further comprising:
 a lid; and   a locking ring; and   wherein an upper surface of the locking ring cooperates with lifting features of the lid to cause the lid to lift off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body to from its locked position to its unlocked position.   
     
     
         11 . The vessel of  claim 10 , wherein the lid lifts off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body from the locked position into the unlocked position without requiring additional force beyond rotational forces generated by the rotation of the locking ring. 
     
     
         12 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a chamfer that helps move the radial seal out of position when disassembling a lid from the body to unseal the vessel as the locking ring moves from its locked position to its unlocked position. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel of  claim 2 , further comprising a lid and wherein the locking ring comprises a lower surface that engages an upper surface of the lid to transfer rotational movement of the locking ring into a directional force downward that pushes the lid against the radial seal. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel of  claim 1 , the vessel further comprising a lid with a pressure/vacuum release port. 
     
     
         15 . A locking mechanism for a vessel for swimming pool equipment requiring a seal, the locking mechanism comprising a plurality of ramps of one of a locking ring or a body of a vessel, and a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel, wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps and to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves between its unlocked and locked positions. 
     
     
         16 . The locking mechanism for the vessel of  claim 15 , further comprising features on a lid, features on a locking ring, and features on a body of the vessel, wherein the features on the lid engage with the features on the locking ring and the features on the locking ring engage with the features on the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves between its locked and unlocked positions. 
     
     
         17 . The locking mechanism for the vessel of  claim 15 , wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp, wherein the upper ramp is horizontally offset from the lower ramp and wherein the upper ramp and the lower ramp are each orientated at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         18 . The locking mechanism for the vessel of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of ramps comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein:
 the upper surface functions as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface of the channel when the locking ring is rotated in a first direction into its locked position to seal the vessel; and   the lower surface functions as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface of the channel to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.   
     
     
         19 . A method of sealing a vessel for swimming pool equipment, the method comprising:
 rotating a locking ring of the vessel in a first direction less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel to move the locking ring from an unlocked position to a locked position and to seal the vessel, wherein the rotation of the locking ring in the first direction causes each of a plurality of ramps of one of the locking ring or the body of the vessel to be received in a channel defined in one of a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein rotating the locking ring in the first direction causes an upper surface of each of the plurality of ramps to engage with an installation engagement surface of the channel. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising rotating the locking ring in a second direction opposite the first direction to move the locking ring from the locked position to the unlocked position and unseal the vessel, wherein rotating the locking ring in the second direction causes a lower surface of each of the plurality of ramps to engage with a removal engagement surface of the channel.